Rafa Benitez has admitted for the first time he might have to sell Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

Liverpool boss Benitez insists he needs a summer transfer kitty of £80million to compete with Chelsea and Manchester United next season.

And with the club struggling to find new investors, Benitez's only option might be to sell off the crown jewels.

He said: "I cannot guarantee that we won't have to sell a big player."

Benitez went public with his fears as it emerged that American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have appointed British Airways big-wig Martin Broughton to help oversee the sale of the Merseyside club.